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Jamaica Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr. Audley Shaw, wants the Caribbean region to prioritise agriculture as a driver of economic growth and development.

While acknowledging the need for the “radical transformation” of the sector, he said agriculture had to become youth friendly, technologically-driven and research-based.

The Minister was at the time speaking as Chairman of the 94^th Special Ministerial Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture held on 8 October, the last day of the 16^th Caribbean Week of Agriculture.

“When we choose agriculture, we choose a sustainable food secure future,” Minister Shaw said.

He said the Meeting presented a unique opportunity to advance policy that would enable the continued transformation of the food and nutrition security in the Caribbean.

Ministers discussed key agricultural matters including those related to the Blue Economy; private sector involvement in the development of agriculture in the Region; market access and investment in the sector; and plant and animal health.

The current environment, Minister Shaw said, revealed the importance of food security especially for the Caribbean.

The Minister said the Region was being challenged to develop policy that would “truly have an impact and demonstrate to the private sector and the world that this Region is ready for business and for sustainable investment in agriculture.”

“We are being challenged to marshal our best efforts to create and abide by systems and mechanisms that will make it safer and easier to trade within the Region and our individual countries. Owing to the pandemic, global supply chains are experiencing disruptions. Having agri food imports of US$3.7B in 2018, the Region currently has an annual agri food trade deficit of just above US$2.2B, portraying it as food import-dependent, or net food importer. CARICOM countries, except for Belize and Guyana, are net food importers with at least seven of these countries importing more than 80 per cent of the food they consume, resulting in the Region’s annual food import bill estimated to be US$5B,” he pointed out. CARICOM is committed to reducing its food import bill by 25% in the next five years (25 in 5) as it implements ifs food and nutrition programmes.

Increased agriculture production and processing, with the necessary investments were the “keys to reversing this worrying trend,” the Chair of the COTED said. He added that the heavy dependence on extra-regional food imports highlighted the Region’s vulnerability, especially in when the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are taken into consideration.

“Our best options for export diversification are our agricultural products that face the strongest demand potential among ourselves as well as around the world,” he said.

Pointing out that there was opportunity to be found in any crisis, the Minister called for increased intra-regional trade and the elimination of non-tariff trade barriers which he said had “virtually isolated the CARICOM market.”

“A situation has emerged where it is easier to trade in agricultural products from Miami, the major hub in the US for trade with CARICOM, to any of the Member State than it is to trade in the identical products among CARICOM Member States. The intra-regional trade in agriculture products is believed to have been hindered by non-tariff barriers as well as by artificial system of logistics and transportation,” he said.

Not wasting opportunities presented by the pandemic was also the message CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Mr. Joseph Cox, left with the Meeting.

He wants the Region to use the current challenges to create space for sectors like Agriculture to “strategically pivot” to take advantages of the opportunities that are being presented.

The ASG for Trade and Economic Integration advised policymakers to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an accelerant for change as opposed to a disruptor. He said that as part of the “necessary strategic pivot” to create the requisite fillip for the Region’s agricultural sector, emphasis had to be placed on four primary areas which he identified as Policy Intervention, Institutional Strengthening, Investment, and Sector Financing.

Under the rubric of Policy Intervention the areas he suggested included:

1. Collateral Reform through the establishment of a Secured Transactions framework which will facilitate the use on non-traditional types of collateral e.g. farm animals, crops etc.

2. Land Titling Reform which will treat with security of tenure and therefore unlock the latent capital that is bounded by unregistered and common law titles;

3. Support for the optimisation of trade facilitation;

4. Support for the reduction of food waste;

5. Support for strengthening internet connectivity in our farming communities. According to an October 2020 study by IICA/IADB/Microsoft, in Belize, Guyana and Jamaica some 71 – 89% of their rural population do not have connectivity services of sufficient quality;

With respect to Institutional Strengthening, the following is being suggested:

(i) Strengthening Research and Development with emphasis on Precision Agriculture. Precision Agriculture represents a series of strategies and tools that allow farmers to optimise and increase soil quality and productivity by implementing a series of targeted key interventions utilising high technology sensor and analysis tools. This would facilitate even more opportunities for production integration;

(ii) Employ land use mapping to facilitate optimisation of crop yields. This would incorporate analysis of soil moisture and soil nutrient levels and facilitate phenotyping;

(iii) Establishment of a Regional virtual extension platform affiliated to tertiary institutions to ensure that knowledge being shared with the farming community is the most up to date feasible. This process must be periodically audited to ensure that it is meeting its mandate as upskilling and reskilling are an integral part of the strategic pivot in Regional agriculture;

(iv) An audit of regional guidelines for agricultural health and food safety to ensure alignment with global best practices; and

(v) Increasing production and promoting the availability of relevant planting material, agricultural inputs, and livestock, as part of the Region’s food security strategy.

With respect to Investment and Private Sector Participation solutions would incorporate:

(i) Development of a PPP Framework to allow for the effective participation of the private sector in Agricultural Development

(ii) Strengthening of supply and value chains including development of a Regional anchor farm model

(iii) Optimisation of transportation and logistics coordination with particular emphasis on shipping;

With regard to Financing of the Agricultural Sector solutions should include:

(i) Design of a Regional Agriculture insurance mechanism

(ii) Design a Regional mechanism for Agriculture factoring and other creative financing mechanisms

(iii) The conduct of a feasibility study into the establishment of a Regional commodities exchange

The Assistant Secretary-General said that while the suggestions were not exhaustive, they could form the basis of a more detailed intervention strategy.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day and no one expects to solve decades old issues in a few sittings. Rather the imperatives highlighted before requires a tripartite collaboration optimising the efforts of the public sector, private sector and International Development Partner Community,” Mr. Cox said.

Citerina Atkins could not have had a more fitting birthday present, given her passion for agriculture.

She became the first youth to be named Young Farmer of the Year, a CARICOM-Caribbean Development Bank award that was inaugurated during Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2021. As fate would have it, the award was presented on her birthday, 8 October, during the Closing Ceremony of the CWA.

Co-founder and Managing Director of Gerty’s Agro-Produce, Atkins left the corporate sector to farm as she recognised the potential of the agriculture sector and the need for more young persons to become involved in it, and by extension, the development of the economy. She grows a variety of crops including Irish and sweet potatoes, and scotch bonnet peppers, employs persons in her community, and sells her produce locally and internationally. Her aim is to move into agro-processing

“I ventured into agriculture for the business aspect of it, but when I’m in the farm and see my produce go from seed to fruit, I know I’m moving closer to self-actualisation,” the Jamaican youth said.

In her acceptance speech, she said she was pleased to accept “this prestigious” award and humbled to be recognised by her peers in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

She’s an advocate for youth involvement in the sector, pointing out that it was “her duty to ensure that young people see themselves as successful businessmen and women when they look at farmers, and I see myself as leading by example”.

She paid tribute to the 4-H Club of Jamaica which nominated her, and which she said played “an active role” in her development in the agriculture sector. She also singled out the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers and the Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers which she said continued to support her journey.

“Through those organisations, I will continue to advocate for increased involvement of women and youth in agriculture and for them to form meaningful partnerships across the region as this is needed to achieve sustainability, and consequently, a strong food system. This, I believe, will ensure our region’s food security and nutrition, and by extension achieving the Sustainable Development Goal,” she said.

Her passion and drive have earned her other accolades as well. Last year, she was the recipient of the The Prime Minister’s National Youth Award of Excellent in the category of Agriculture and Agro-processing. She also won and an award for Entrepreneur creating the most impact within the community presented by Young Women/ Men of Purpose in collaboration with Entrepreneurs Across Borders funded by US Embassy, Kingston.

Farmer of the year

Atkins was one of two farmers who were recognised for their outstanding contributions to agriculture in the Caribbean. Deles Warrington of Dominica received the CARICOM Farmer of the Year Award.

Warrington is a commercial banana farmer in Calibishe, Dominica, who also plants other crops including avocadoes, root crops such as yams and sweet potatoes, pineapples and onions. He also rears goats. Described as a stalwart, resilient banana farmer, Warrington has been involved in several agri-based organisations and is credited with providing technical advice and support to other farmers.

In his acceptance speech, the Farmer of the Year said he felt most honoured and appreciative of the award. He said that in spite of the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was clear that agriculture “is alive and well”.

“Though we have gone through some serious challenges in our Region … especially in Dominica where we have had (Hurricanes) Erika and Maria, and before that David … which did a lot of damage to our agriculture sector, agriculture has been coming back on stream, and it is because of our farmers who are resilient. They are people who are strong and always want to move forward, working in the soil,” Warrington said.

He extended congratulations to Atkins, encouraged other young people to get involved in farming, and pointed out that “you can make a living from agriculture”.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit congratulated Warrington. He recalled that for many years, the farmer was a true example of industry, determination and innovation in agriculture, and his success underscored the critical role of agriculture in strengthening food systems, feeding families and communities, enhancing livelihoods and creating employment.

“We thank Mr. Warrington for his outstanding contribution to the development of Dominica’s agriculture sector and wish him continued success,” PM Skerrit said in a Facebook post.

While the week was devoted to all things agriculture, with transforming the region’s food systems as the focus, CWA participants took the opportunity during the closing ceremony to publicly thank farmers for their work in producing and providing quality food for the Region’s populace.

Mr. Audley Shaw, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister of Jamaica, announced the awards and pointed out that they were indicative of “our gratitude for the outstanding role that our regional farmers play in contributing to our goal of food security and sustainability”.

“Every day, we are reminded of the quality and the quantity of our food; of the unconditional work they put in; the blood, sweat and tears to ensure that they produce and provide food for us in our individual countries and across the Region. As we express our most gratitude to our farmers, I take this opportunity to say that the future of agriculture rests on climate smart technologies, agri-smart technology, export expansion and our young, vibrant farmers…,” he said.

Involving more youth in the agriculture sector was also a message that Mr. Isaac Solomon, Vice President, Operations of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) brought to the ceremony. Drawing youth to agriculture was a priority for transforming the sector through innovation, technology and creative thinking, and in so doing, contribute to addressing the region’s food security challenge.

He said the CDB, a CARICOM Associate Institution, was actively exploring facilitating the increased participation of youth in agriculture, through a “marriage between our agricultural sector policy and strategy, and our youth policy and operational strategy”.

He conceded that there was much work to be done but assured the region that the CDB would lend support through financing, technical assistance and training.

Unsung heroes

Mr. Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration at the CARICOM Secretariat said the inaugural awards represented “our tribute to our hard working farmers of our Community who have shared so much, sacrificed so much and indeed have been faced with immense challenges ranging from pestilence, issues of drought, treating with the ravages of climate change”.

Ms. Beverly Best, Director of External and Institutional Cooperation of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), extended gratitude to “all farmers who continue to contribute to the development of a robust agriculture food system in the Caribbean and ensuring that agriculture remains a driving force in our region’s economy”.

She added that through the two prestigious awards, the Caribbean region had recognised farmers who were unsung heroes and who contributed significantly to food security and economic development through the various linkages with other sections of the economy

“To you our young, vibrant and innovative farmers, we implore you to always remember the words of Thomas Jefferson, and I quote ‘Agriculture is a wisest pursuit, because it will, in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness’. It is therefore most fitting that these awards be presented as we culminate a week of activities premised on ensuring the development and prosperity of the Caribbean farmers. IICA wishes to underscore its commitment to supporting its member states in the Caribbean to assume stronger ownership of the transformative processes to be the architects of achieving a more resilient and sustainable food system whilst at the same time embracing the ideals of multilateralism,” she said.

Ms. Vermaran Extavour, International Value Chain Expert and Project Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations highlighted the need to “consider the youth in all that we do”. She congratulated the awardees who she described as “exemplars”. The FAO, she said, would do all it could to promote them and their approaches.

The 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture concluded on 8 October 2021 with the presentation of inaugural awards for CARICOM-Caribbean Development Bank Young Farmer of the Year, Citerina Atkins of Jamaica, and CARICOM Farmer of the Year, Deles Warrington of Dominica.

CARICOM Member States were required to submit nominations for the awards which were announced during the closing ceremony of the CWA on 8 October 2021. The awards were established to recognise, promote, foster and support young agriculture entrepreneurs.

“This award is in sync with the revolution of a new phase of food that can be adapted by the entire region, targeting our youth, as we believe they will be the driver behind the transforming of our agricultural sector and indeed our economy,” said the Hon. Audley Shaw, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Jamaica and Chair of the 94th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Agriculture that was the final activity of the CWA.

Announcing the winners, Minister Shaw expressed gratitude to the farmers of the Region.

“Everyday, we are reminded of the quality and the quantity of our food, of the unconditional work they put in; the blood, sweat and tears to ensure that they produce and provide food for us in our individual countries and across the Region.

“As we express our … gratitude to our farmers, I take this opportunity to say that the future of agriculture rests on climate smart technologies, agri-smart technology, export expansion and our young, vibrant farmers, thus these awards for the CARICOM Farmer and the CARICOM Ministers of Agriculture Award for the CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2021, are indicative of our gratitude for the outstanding role that our regional farmers play in  contributing to our goal of food security and sustainability,” he said.

Listen to the ceremony:

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2021 concludes on Friday, 8 October following a Special Ministerial Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

A closing ceremony will be held at 5pm and will feature the presentation of the inaugural CARICOM Farmer of the Year and Youth Farmer of the Year Awards.

Representatives of the media are invited to cover the following:

EVENT: Closing Ceremony, 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture

DATE: 8 October 2021

TIME: 5: pm

If you have not registered already, please do so at cwa2021.caricom.org to attend and cover the ceremony

The event will be livestreamed also on:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/caricom.org

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/caricomorg

(Demerara Waves) Guyana is among several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states that on Monday inked a declaration to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, even as the region prepares to tap into assistance from Norway to tackle the scourge that experts say is linked to a range of other transnational crimes.

The Declaration would, among other things, see Guyana and sister regional states benefitting from a Norwegian platform called Blue Justice Community, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), that would help track down vessels that are involved in IUU.

Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Milton Haughton said the next “major” step is a meeting of fisheries departments and security experts early next year to map out the needs and priorities that would be supported by the Blue Justice Initiative for smashing the trade that has seen a depletion of fish stocks. “Going forward, I think we need to strengthen our collaboration and I think we will  begin to turn the tide on this very difficult issue that we are dealing with of unlawfulness in the fishing industry and the depletion and degradation of our resources,” he added.

Specialist Director of Norway’s Fisheries Department, Gunnar Stølsvik explained that the Blue Justice  Community is a secure platform that allows government officials to communicate with each other securely in a stable manner rather than by email.

Read more at: Demerara Waves

San Jose, 5 October 2021 (IICA). The opening event of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2021 made a resounding call to transform agri-food systems so as to ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability and facilitate post-pandemic recovery.

CWA is the subregion’s most important forum for dialogue, convened with the aim to reach consensus on the future of agriculture and rural life. Participants at the event include key stakeholders in the Caribbean from both the public and private sectors.

Themed “Transforming our food systems”, this is the sixteenth edition of the event—inaugurated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999—and is the first time it is held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caribbean Week of Agriculture is organized by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in collaboration with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and FAO. The week-long event concludes on 8 October and includes over 30 activities, 100 speakers and a virtual presentation covering topics such as primary production, manufacturing, agritourism, agricultural technology, agricultural education and trade.

“If we are willing, we can transform our agriculture, making it better, more diverse and capable of guaranteeing access to healthy, nutritious foods for everyone, leaving no one behind”, affirmed Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

The head of state explained that Guyana has been working to increase production and strengthen the sector’s institutions to build a more resilient agriculture with access to technological innovation.

He continued: “We must ask ourselves why we need to transform the food systems and how we can achieve it. Our region is blessed with arable land, abundant sources of fresh water and qualified agricultural workers. However, we import over USD 5 billion in food annually. We have the resources to produce more food than what we consume and, in the process, generate income for the population”.

Irfaan Ali believes that the Caribbean has a critical need to increase food security given that “it is particularly vulnerable to extreme climate events like floods, droughts and hurricanes as a result of climate change. We must respond to the challenges and seize opportunities to build resilience”.

Errington Thompson, President of Agriculture Alliance of the Caribbean (AACARI), underscored the role played by IICA in supporting agriculture in the Caribbean given the challenging situation stemming from the pandemic in early 2020.

Errington made an emphatic call to action regarding the need to strengthen the sustainability of food production, processing and trade: “The circumstances we are in do not allow us to delay or procrastinate. We are facing the impact of COVID-19 and climate change, as well as weakened economies and food shortages. We must act fast and reach consensus to ensure that we meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially eradiating hunger”.

Ignatius Jean, Chairman of the Board of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), explained that recent natural disasters, including the floods in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, the earthquake in Haiti and the eruption of La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, have exacerbated the devastating effects of the pandemic.

“Today, millions of people don’t have access to a healthy diet”, informed Jean, who further emphasized the urgent need to involve young people in agriculture as an indispensable condition to be able to build a food production that is resilient to natural disasters.

Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Integration at CARICOM, referred to the importance that the Caribbean fulfill its objective to reduce food imports by 25% by 2025.

“Over the next few years, we must strengthen our food security by making strategic decisions that guarantee a resilient future”, he stated. He also noted the importance of reorganizing the agricultural business model in the Caribbean to drive improvements in productivity, incorporate innovation and build more resilient structures to the volatility of international prices.

Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of IICA, spoke of the importance, in terms of diversity, of the Americas and the Caribbean to global agri-food systems.

“On the one hand, the region contributes to global food and nutrition security as the top exporter, the largest ecosystem services provider and the greatest source of biodiversity. On the other hand, there are countries, particularly in the Caribbean, that are heavily dependent on food imports, making them vulnerable to disruptions in the supply chain”.

Day also pointed out the significance of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture being held just days after the UN Food Systems Summit, for which the entire American continent agreed on a document containing 16 messages that expressed the region’s joint vision for the transformation of agri-food systems.

Day summarized the actions undertaken by IICA since early 2020 to support the nations of the Caribbean in responding to the pandemic, including the creation of a special fund to ensure food and nutrition security. The Institute also participated in campaigns to facilitate access to seeds, irrigation equipment and inputs in Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana and Belize.

IICA also made significant efforts to rebuild agricultural production in the wake of natural disasters, including the eruption of La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the floods in Guyana and Suriname and the earthquake in Haiti.

In turn, Julio Berdegué, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, urged the different stakeholders to work together to face threats like the recent outbreak of swine fever, which puts at risk an important economic activity in the region, and warned that the global mitigation of climate change is “a matter of life or death” for the Caribbean islands.

More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int

His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali today said that Guyana will push aggressively for the dismantling of barriers that restrict intra-regional agricultural trade in a bid for the country, and by extension, the Caribbean, to not only attain food security but to also export food. 

The Guyanese President, who is the lead Head of Government with responsibility for agriculture in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, delivered the keynote address virtually at the 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2021. 

“We cannot seriously speak of significantly denting the enormous and unsustainable regional food import bill yet, unwittingly or otherwise erect, and keep in place non-tariff barriers (NTBs), which impede regional trade in agriculture produce and products.”

The President stated that his Government would be “bullish” in pressing to dismantle the barriers. 

“I know that there are vested interests who wish to retain these barriers, but the choice facing us is clear.”

In his pre-recorded address, President Ali pointed out that the promotion of regional initiatives aimed at eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade is among the critical areas being addressed by the Special Ministerial Taskforce. 

He also said that CWA2021 should address two fundamental questions—why the transformation of regional food systems is necessary and how best the Caribbean can pursue the transformation process. 

Read more at: Department of Public Information

(Demerara Waves) The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Monday said it was ready to support Guyana’s agriculture proposal for the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The announcement was made by FAO’s Assistant Director General, Julio Antonio Berdegué in his address to the opening of Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2021.

Recalling President Irfaan Ali’s proposal on agricultural diversification and food security, to colleague regional leaders in February 2021, the FAO official said that document contains “concrete and very practical” policies. “We agree with every single point of that agenda and we’re willing to organise our work in the CARICOM countries in support of this agenda,” he said.

The FAO official appealed to CARICOM member states to scrap individual agendas and go under the regional umbrella. “FAO is ready to do that,” he said, adding that the agenda has been defined under Guyana’s leadership.

Guyana is responsible for agriculture in the CARICOM quasi-Cabinet.

Read more at: Demerara Waves

I bring you greetings from IICA Director General, Dr. Manuel Otero, who cannot be with us today.

It is indeed an honour and pleasure for IICA to partner once again with the CARICOM Secretariat, FAO, CARDI and other regional partners to host the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA).

The theme for this 16^th edition of CWA – ‘Transforming our Food Systems’ is indeed highly relevant for our Region. The Americas and the Caribbean is a diverse region as it relates to the state of its food systems. On one hand, the region contributes to global food and nutritional security by being the main food exporting region and the largest ecosystem service provider and source of biodiversity. On the other, there are countries, particularly in the Caribbean, that are heavily dependent on food imports which makes them vulnerable to potential disruptions in food supplies, and to food and nutrition insecurity.  The region is also critical to environmental sustainability and the mitigation of climate change effects at the global level.

The theme is also timely as this CWA comes on the heels of the historic UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) held on 23 September, which sought to empower all people to leverage the power of food systems to drive our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and get us back on track to achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

IICA was pleased to lead a process of dialogue with the countries of the Americas and the Caribbean in developing and presenting 16 Key Messages to the Summit.  Central to these messages were three themes: (1) that farmers must be part of the discussion; (2) that science must be the foundation for policy formulation; and (3) that agriculture must be part of the solution to address our environmental challenges. 

During 2020, Caribbean Agriculture, local food systems and rural communities were hard hit by COVID-19, experiencing food supply chain disruptions, higher freight costs, job layoffs and price inflation in inputs and supplies. The pandemic has resulted in declines of up to 50% in export of goods and services, 80% in tourism, a projected 10% in GDP, and on average 7% in overall employment.

IICA acted with flexibility, adjusting our approach to support member country COVID-19 responses while simultaneously delivering technical cooperation.  Among our first actions was to facilitate dialogue, with Ministers of Agriculture, Rural women, Youth and Private sector, resulting in a better appreciation of macro and micro level COVID-19 impacts, identification of priorities for technical assistance, and agreements to pursue joint responses to mitigate impacts and secure livelihoods.

 IICA consolidated its technical cooperation resources into a US$550,000 dollar Special COVID-19 Caribbean Response Fund to support food and nutrition security.  We also launched a successful Crowd Funding campaign to enhance access of vulnerable communities in Antigua & Barbuda and Haiti to obtain basic agricultural inputs, including seeds and irrigation equipment

Productivity in the traditional crop sectors was enhanced with  IICA facilitating hands-on training for farmers and extension staff in Grenada and St. Kitts & Nevis for banana farmers; and with Piloting of zinc-biofortified and iron-biofortified rice and red bean and black bean advanced breeding lines in Guyana and Belize through the CARICOM BioFortification Network. This is a GREAT PROJECT!

Two major achievements in 2020 strengthened IICA’s capacity to support countries to build the groundwork for a climate resilient, productive and low emissions agriculture. IICA’s first-time partnership with the Green Climate Fund will deliver a regional readiness project in 9 CARICOM countries; and with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, we are implementing an ecosystem-based adaptation project in 4 CARICOM countries using vetiver grass.

Agriculture climate resilience support also included improving soil health to create and sustain healthy agri-food systems in the Region; and promoting the bioeconomy through an organic waste management programme that hosted 20 composting training events, involved over 400 stakeholders and 79 partner organizations and which resulted in 30 small scale pilot projects in 6 countries.

IICA continues to facilitate the transition to digital agriculture supporting the development of Apps for information sharing, marketing and trade. At the regional level, a Government-to-Government Cari-Agri Trade trading portal developed by IICA is being piloted in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat in 7 CARICOM countries, and an Agricultural Extension APP, also developed by IICA, is currently being installed in CARICOM countries.

IICA and its partners have always been sympathetic in emergencies. Their solidarity and support have made a decisive impact on agricultural rehabilitation, the re-establishment of the affected population and on the strengthening of capacities to address future emergencies.  In 2021, we gave priority to St. Vincent & the Grenadines in the aftermath of the eruption of the Soufriere volcano, through the provision of 11,000 packets of seeds from Brazil, and the acquisition of greenhouses for production of vegetable seedlings.  We were also able to respond to the flooding crises in Guyana and Suriname.

The Republic of Haiti experienced the effects of an earthquake on August 14 in the country’s southern peninsula, resulting in the regrettable loss of at least 2,000 lives and extensive material damage, including the destruction of more than 61,000 homes, and affecting close to 137,000 families, particularly in rural areas.  Among other serious consequences, the damage to agricultural production, rural infrastructure and food supply channels has further endangered the food security of that country’s inhabitants.  Moreover, the agriculture sector and food security in Haiti have been further debilitated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent passage of Tropical Storm Grace. 

I am pleased to report that a key resolution of the IICA ministerial meeting, the IABA, held in September has resolved to instruct IICA to collaborate with its strategic partners to provide technical cooperation services and to coordinate the necessary assistance to mitigate the impact on the agriculture and rural sector of Haiti, particularly to support family farmers with seeds and inputs, given the upcoming planting season for corn and beans.

The IABA also resolved that IICA work as part of an integrated global response to the outbreak of African Swine Fever. We will address this issue later this week in a specific session for the CWA discussion of ASF. But we are in close collaboration with the OIE, FAO, and regional sanitary authorities as well as those of other member states such as the United States and Canada to develop a strategic response and international assistance.

The CWA allows us to continue the process of strategic dialogue and information sharing, and to address the recommendations of the Global Summit and the specific expressed needs of the Agri-Food sector here in the Caribbean Region.

The Director General wishes to extend his profound gratitude to the Ministers of Agriculture of the Caribbean for their vote of confidence in installing him once more at the helm of the Institute, and pledges to continue to develop IICA as a ‘Bridge’ for technical cooperation and an open door to the future of Agriculture.

Finally, on behalf of IICA let me wish all of the organisers and participants, a successful CWA 2021.